

She had been approached to participate in previous seasons of the show, but declined for scheduling conflicts. She entered the show to develop new areas of tattooing expertise and test herself. With only five years of tattoo experience, she won the title as a relative newcomer. The show's executive producer said it was the first time such an alliance had held throughout the season. Under Ashley, the women on the show formed an alliance to outlast their competitors. Mic noted the occasion as a moment for female tattoo artists, who are subject to social stigmas in a male-dominated profession. Ashley was the eighth season's champion, the first woman to win the title.
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In late 2016, Ashley appeared on Ink Master, a reality competition television series in which tattoo artists participate in artistic challenges to outlast other competitors and receive the season's title and monetary prize. Her clients have included rock musicians Maria Brink and Ash Costello. She references bridal accessories and chandeliers for her beading designs, and old, illustrated wildlife books for animal and bird designs. When designing filigree, she references Victorian furniture scrollwork. Īshley's signature black-and-gray tattoo designs feature beadwork, lace detail, and ornamental jewels. The couple opened a second shop in Philadelphia with taxidermist business partners. The latter had been a hobby from her youth, when she had attended yard and estate sales with her mother and grandmother. Ashley tattooed from the back of the shop while the front featured their collection of taxidermy, objects, and restored antiques for sale. Ashley and her companion opened a shop in Kingston, Pennsylvania, in 2013, The Strange and Unusual Oddities Parlor. Her experience working at a street shop (a tattoo parlor that takes walk-in requests) convinced her to only work by appointment. Seeking a career outside of a traditional office environment, Ashley returned to Pennsylvania to apprentice as a tattoo artist. Her intricate tattoo style would later reflect these themes.

She graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology in 2007 and spent five years as a fashion designer in New York City at a private label, where she designed beadwork, lace details, embroidery, and appliqués for garments.
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Ashley's mother, who was also an artist, taught her how to draw. Her single mother worked at a fast food restaurant while taking night school in accounting. She also owns two oddities and antiques shops in Pennsylvania.Īshley was raised in Dallas, a small borough in northeast Pennsylvania. Ashley won Ink Master 's season eight competition in 2016 and in the following years returned to host a spin-off show ( Angels), judge another spin-off ( Grudge Match), and judge in the main series. Her signature style reflects her training and experience as a fashion designer: Ashley specializes in black-and-gray designs with beadwork, lace detail, and ornamental jewels.

Ryan Ashley DiCristina (née Malarkey, born April 29, 1987), known as Ryan Ashley, is an American tattoo artist known for her appearances on the television shows Ink Master and its spin-offs.
